Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Dasmarinas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $864 in Cebu versus $540 in Dasmarinas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,335 in Cebu versus $964 in Dasmarinas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,807 in Cebu versus $1,388 in Dasmarinas.

Living in Cebu is roughly 60% more expensive than in Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 35% lower, Dasmarinas 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₱277

$3.61 ₱223

24.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.83 ₱1,471

$13.13 ₱810

81.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.38 ₱270

$2.61 ₱161

67.82%

Cappuccino

$2.64 ₱163

$1.64 ₱102

60.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₱49.84

$0.59 ₱36.27

37.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 ₱26.53

$0.31 ₱19.05

38.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.7

$1.04 ₱64.2

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱130

$1.31 ₱80.6

60.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₱138

$1.60 ₱98.8

40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₱92.2

$1.07 ₱65.9

39.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₱68.5

$0.79 ₱49.06

40.51%

Eggs

$2.29 ₱141

$2.06 ₱127

11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 ₱805

$5.58 ₱344

133.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 ₱321

$3.84 ₱237

35.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 ₱462

$8.09 ₱499

-7.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 ₱217

$2.62 ₱162

34.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ₱94.2

$1.38 ₱85.5

10.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 ₱211

$1.74 ₱107

96.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$0.69 ₱42.38

226.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.62 ₱162

$1.09 ₱67.1

140.37%

Onion (1kg)

$2.47 ₱153

$2.28 ₱141

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₱61.1

$0.71 ₱43.89

39.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱48.00

$0.45 ₱27.82

73.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₱200

$2.14 ₱132

51.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 ₱394

$9.11 ₱563

-29.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₱71.9

$1.07 ₱66.0

8.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₱138

$2.35 ₱145

-5.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.29

$0.28 ₱17.38

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.32 ₱946

$4.31 ₱266

255.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.1

$0.86 ₱53.0

2.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.18

$0.24 ₱14.91

-4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 ₱161

$2.43 ₱150

7.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱68.1

$1.11 ₱68.4

-0.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K ₱1.8M

$32.2K ₱2.0M

-7.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ₱1.7M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

31.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ₱5,950

$44.04 ₱2,719

118.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.56 ₱2,133

$34.48 ₱2,128

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.67 ₱1,832

$26.34 ₱1,626

12.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.00 ₱2,037

$11.94 ₱737

176.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 ₱504

$4.49 ₱277

81.74%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ₱356

$5.79 ₱358

-0.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$235 ₱14.5K

$154 ₱9,485

52.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,852 ₱237.8K

$4,737 ₱292.4K

-18.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 ₱3,181

$47.83 ₱2,952

7.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.09 ₱1,425

$27.93 ₱1,724

-17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.7 ₱4,670

$74.4 ₱4,594

1.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.2 ₱3,407

$46.92 ₱2,897

17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₱31.0K

$263 ₱16.3K

90.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$216 ₱13.3K

$85.0 ₱5,249

153.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$807 ₱49.8K

$582 ₱35.9K

38.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 ₱23.7K

$402 ₱24.8K

-4.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ₱183.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,932 ₱119.3K

$392 ₱24.2K

393.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 ₱21.4K

$359 ₱22.1K

-3.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

25.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cebu: July 22, 2026

Last update for Dasmarinas: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Cebu and $263 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dasmarinas pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cebu vs $13.00 in Dasmarinas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $174 per month, with Dasmarinas cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cebu vs Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dasmarinas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Dasmarinas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $502 in Cebu versus $263 in Dasmarinas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $864 per month in Cebu versus $540 in Dasmarinas – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 255% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dasmarinas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Dasmarinas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu and Dasmarinas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.